FEBRUARY Summary.

February has passed by in a flash. I have been at Laguna Blanca for three weeks and have already had some unforgettable moments. As with all continents the passage of birds has been affected by adverse weather conditions. The evenings are definitely getting cooler but during the day the temperature is still in the mid to late 30C. 

A few of the hi-lights:-

The Capuchin monkey encounter which lasted 14minutes is at the top of the list.

The Red-breasted Toucan sighting on the 28^th is top of the bird list.

(Red-breasted Toucan)

The Osprey is regularly seen in the UK but I have not had the opportunity to take close rang photos of this magnificent bird before. The bird remained for the morning of the 17^th.

(Osprey)

Seeing a Red-legged Seriema and Greater Rhea 6, near the Nightjar land on the 23^rd was also fantastic.

Photographing the Glittering-bellied Emerald was a challenge but I succeeded with a flight and a picture of the bird perched on a bush.

(Glittering-bellied Emerald)

My favourite group of birds the Owls have been very obliging with three species seen.

(Ferruginous Pygmy-owl)

There have been some signs of migration with a flock of Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow 2 on 15^th and 1 on 25^th .Two groups of Mississippi Kites passing over the lagoon during cloudy weather c15 on 24^th and 5 on 25^th. The first group had a Swallow-tailed Kite with them but sadly I did not see this magnificent bird. 

(Mississippi Kite)

Great White Egret c20-30 dropped in on the E end of the lagoon on 16^th.

Black-necked Stilts flew over the lagoon on the 15^th but did not stop flying NW.

The Rufescent Tiger-Heron on the 19^th was another visitor I missed but the moment was captured by Adam.

(Rufescent Tiger-Heron Copyright Adam Moltzahn)

Neotropical Cormorants 32 dropped onto the E end of the lagoon on the 18th.

A Pied-billed Grebe has been present daily at the beach end of the lagoon and was joined by a 2^nd bird which was joined by Neotropical Cormorant 9 on the 20^th at the E end of the lagoon. 

(Pied-billed Grebe)

There were plenty of regular birds around Laguna Blanca. (The number given is the highest count).

Vultures were more prevalent when we had carcasses in the Cerado, Black Vulture 8, Turkey Vulture 2, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture 2.

Doves and Pigeons were regularly seen in flight, White-tipped Dove numbers peaked with 73 in flight over the Cerrado. 

Atlantic Forest: Masked Yellowthroat 4, White-eyed Parakeet 7, Pileated Parrot 7, Tataupa Tinamou 3, Spotted Nothura, Black-capped Antwren 2, Ferruginous Pygmy-owl.

Base and lagoon: Tropical Screech Owl, Flavescent Warbler, Southern Lapwing c43, Rufous Horneo 3, Great Kiskadee 4, Guira Cuckoo 5, Purplish Jay 6 , Curl-crested Jay 3,  Plush-crested Jay 4, Campo Flicker 4, Smooth-billed Ani 16, Canary-winged Parakeets, Chopi Blackbird 6, Sayaca Tanager 3 (Family group), Striated Heron 2,

Cerrado: White-rumped Tanagers 9 , White-banded Tanager 3,  Black-throated Saltators 11, American Kestrel, Grassland Sparrow 10, Ruddy Ground-dove 8.

Transitional Forest: Purplish Jay, Curl-crested Jay, White Woodpecker, Campo Flicker,